Sports Illustrated recently conducted a survey of the four major professional sports (baseball, football, basketball, and hockey) and asked the players if they would welcome an openly gay teammate. This survey was a follow-up to two recent books written by former National Football League players Esera Tuaol and Roy Simmons who have come out as gay since they retired.
Sports Illustrated survey
All sports had a majority of the responses saying yes, they would welcome an openly gay teammate. The NFL was the lowest at 56.9%, while 79.9% of the National Hockey League who replied were affirmative. I suspect this is a reflection of the different nature of the players--there is a much larger number of Europeans in the NHL than any other major sport.
Intrestingly, only 41% of NFL rookies and 48% of the National Basketball Association rookies were open to welcoming a gay teammate. I suspect this closed mindedness is at least partially a reflection of the sense of entitlement and superiority young players have developed, being coddled since they first began showing athletic prowess as youngsters. In this survey, players who had been around longer were more open toward a gay teammate.
This is clearly a step in the direction of acceptance of an openly gay player in one of the major sports. The downside, however, is that over 1/3 of the baseball, basketball, and football players said no. Understanding team sports like I do, I realize that is still a significant number, much too large for anyone to feel comfortable coming out. There is still much progress to be made toward acceptance in the world of major professional team sports.
If any athlete reading this, or if someone you know is an athlete struggling with hiding their sexual orientation, wants someone to write their story, please let me know. The first person to come out in one of the major sports will be a modern day Jackie Robinson and have to deal with a staggering amount of hatred. I would be proud to tell the story of that athlete.
March 07, 2006
"Arguement In Proper Perspective"
My pastor Dale forwarded me this e-mail. It is profound enough that I don't feel it requres additional comment:
Yesterday in Annapolis at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify. He did so......
At the end of his testimony, a right-wing senator said: "Mr Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man & a woman. What do you have to say about that?"
Raskin: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."
Considerable applause was reported.
Yesterday in Annapolis at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify. He did so......
At the end of his testimony, a right-wing senator said: "Mr Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man & a woman. What do you have to say about that?"
Raskin: "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."
Considerable applause was reported.
Jesus vs. Jeezus
I ran across a fascinating graphical display of how a segment of christianity has gone away from obeying the teaching of Jesus.
Chart: Jesus vs. Jeezus
How true and how sad. Sometimes you can know something, but when it is laid out like this it really hits hard, and that's what this did.
I found this on the blog "The Republic of T." I actually had the pleasure of meeting him a few weeks ago, and he just posted that his father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Please join me in praying for T and his family during this difficult time.
Chart: Jesus vs. Jeezus
How true and how sad. Sometimes you can know something, but when it is laid out like this it really hits hard, and that's what this did.
I found this on the blog "The Republic of T." I actually had the pleasure of meeting him a few weeks ago, and he just posted that his father has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Please join me in praying for T and his family during this difficult time.
March 04, 2006
One Person's Story--Repairative Therapy Does Anything But Repair
I'm linking to a deeply moving letter to the editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This was timed to conincide with a "Love Won Out," event being held in the Gateway City, an event co-sponsored by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. This event promotes "repairative therapy" and "transformational ministry," both designed to "cure" homosexual desires in people.
This letter shares the experience of one individual who desperately wanted to believe in what these people were trying to do, but saw where it failed miserably and brought on deep depression and thoughts of suicide.
"It's Less About Change and More About Money"
This is another reminder that a person's only chance for true piece and happiness is to embrace and develop the gifts God gave us. Hetrosexuality and homosexuality are both gifts that we are born with, just like the ability to sing, do complex mathematics, etc. God gave those to us for a reason, and if we don't use them, we will never be within His will and His plan for our lives.
This letter shares the experience of one individual who desperately wanted to believe in what these people were trying to do, but saw where it failed miserably and brought on deep depression and thoughts of suicide.
"It's Less About Change and More About Money"
This is another reminder that a person's only chance for true piece and happiness is to embrace and develop the gifts God gave us. Hetrosexuality and homosexuality are both gifts that we are born with, just like the ability to sing, do complex mathematics, etc. God gave those to us for a reason, and if we don't use them, we will never be within His will and His plan for our lives.
March 03, 2006
Don't Speak for Me as a Christian
I was pointed to this piece on the CBN.com website. It is titled "Loving Your Gay Son." Here, their Dr. Linda makes a sincere attempt to offer advice to guide parents toward being loving and, at least to some extent, accepting. I don't have any major issues with the advice she offers. She seems to be seeking the path Jesus would take, and that's a great foundation for doing anything.
The second sentence of this piece, however, is deeply troubling. Dr. Linda states as fact regarding homosexuality that, "Christians still believe the lifestyle is spiritually and morally wrong. "
I beg your pardon.
Generalizing statements like this, which ignore the fact that there is a dissenting opinion among people like me who consider themselves card-carrying christians, is what puts forth the message of intolrerance.
All the helpful advice in the world will only go so far if it at least partly based on ignorance of the facts supporting it.
The second sentence of this piece, however, is deeply troubling. Dr. Linda states as fact regarding homosexuality that, "Christians still believe the lifestyle is spiritually and morally wrong. "
I beg your pardon.
Generalizing statements like this, which ignore the fact that there is a dissenting opinion among people like me who consider themselves card-carrying christians, is what puts forth the message of intolrerance.
All the helpful advice in the world will only go so far if it at least partly based on ignorance of the facts supporting it.
Church and Supreme Court--Not Very Seperate
This week, Dr. James Dobson acknowledged receiving a thank-you letter from recent Supreme Court appointment Justice Samuel Alito. Dobson has taken bows for his successful push to have Alito's nomination confirmed by the senate, and he appears to have made a friend in a very high place.
What's the big deal? If you are a sports fan, how would feel if an umpire had sent a thank-you note to Barry Bonds for supporting him through a political process. Would opposing pitchers think they would get an even shake on balls and strikes when they are pitching to Bonds with that umpire behind the plate?
How about an area of critical importance to a large portion of America-the judging on American Idol. If Simon Cowell had sent this type of letter to one of the contestants, wouldn't that give at least the appearance of impropriety?
In the situation with Justice Alito, we are talking about someone in a position that is supposed to be, dare I say, the supreme bastion of impartiality. The ultimate defenders and interpreters of the U. S. Constitution are supposed to be as unbiased as a human can be. There's only nine of them at any one time--the bar needs to be set exceptionally high.
How impartial do you think Justice Alitio will be on cases of great interest to Dr. Dobson and his ilk. Do you really think cases involving same-sex marriage, abortion, or anything Dr. Dobson doesn't like will get a fair shake from this justice? Will that title become an oxymoron?
Of course, I don't believe the "fundamentalists" want justice. They want their agenda to become the law of the land. Judges who don't agree with them are branded "activist judges." In Maryland, there is even a movement in the state legislature to impeach the judge who ruled that the prohibition of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional (the case is currently under appeal).
It's bad enough when politicians are beholding to someone who helped them get elected. It's much worse when the final line of defense in protecting citizens from those politicans, the Supreme Court, is tainted with the same agenda. And it was all done in the name of God.
Do you actually think Jesus wants money spent and arms twisted in His name to gain conformation for a Supreme Court justice?
I sure don't.
What's the big deal? If you are a sports fan, how would feel if an umpire had sent a thank-you note to Barry Bonds for supporting him through a political process. Would opposing pitchers think they would get an even shake on balls and strikes when they are pitching to Bonds with that umpire behind the plate?
How about an area of critical importance to a large portion of America-the judging on American Idol. If Simon Cowell had sent this type of letter to one of the contestants, wouldn't that give at least the appearance of impropriety?
In the situation with Justice Alito, we are talking about someone in a position that is supposed to be, dare I say, the supreme bastion of impartiality. The ultimate defenders and interpreters of the U. S. Constitution are supposed to be as unbiased as a human can be. There's only nine of them at any one time--the bar needs to be set exceptionally high.
How impartial do you think Justice Alitio will be on cases of great interest to Dr. Dobson and his ilk. Do you really think cases involving same-sex marriage, abortion, or anything Dr. Dobson doesn't like will get a fair shake from this justice? Will that title become an oxymoron?
Of course, I don't believe the "fundamentalists" want justice. They want their agenda to become the law of the land. Judges who don't agree with them are branded "activist judges." In Maryland, there is even a movement in the state legislature to impeach the judge who ruled that the prohibition of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional (the case is currently under appeal).
It's bad enough when politicians are beholding to someone who helped them get elected. It's much worse when the final line of defense in protecting citizens from those politicans, the Supreme Court, is tainted with the same agenda. And it was all done in the name of God.
Do you actually think Jesus wants money spent and arms twisted in His name to gain conformation for a Supreme Court justice?
I sure don't.
March 02, 2006
Who Can Throw Stones
I ran across this yesterday in my bible study and thought is was very appropriate for this forum.
John 8:1-11 (NIV)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus did not excuse the sin, but he made it clear who had the right to judge it.
I don't think I need to add anything else here.
John 8:1-11 (NIV)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Jesus did not excuse the sin, but he made it clear who had the right to judge it.
I don't think I need to add anything else here.
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